California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium earned the top position, followed by the Georgia Aquarium, Tennessee Aquarium, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

The New England Aquarium in Boston ranks 18th, and Norwalk’s Maritime Aquarium came in at No. 21.

According to a press release from a public relations firm representing Trip Advisor, the Travelers’ Choice Awards use reviews from travelers to identify the best zoos and aquariums worldwide.

The Travelers' Choice Web site allows users to write reviews of destinations they've visited, which will be taken into consideration for future awards.